A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputy shot and killed a suspect who fled on foot following a police pursuit in the Olympia area on Tuesday.
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating the incident, TCSO said in a news release Tuesday evening.
The incident began at approximately 2:37 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, when a TCSO deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for traveling about 90mph in a 35mph zone on Yelm Highway Southeast.
“The deputy attempted a traffic stop, however the driver fled and a pursuit was initiated,” TCSO said in a news release.
During the incident, both the deputy and the suspect crashed, according to TCSO.
“The suspect fled on foot, and deputies heard shots being fired in a back yard,” TCSO stated. “Deputies pursued the suspect on foot when shots were fired and the suspect was struck by gunfire.”
Medical aid was rendered to the suspect, but the suspect did not survive, according to TCSO. No deputies were injured.
OII has since confirmed that the fatal shooting took place near a residence in the 3200 block of Hoffman Road Southeast in Olympia.
A passenger in the vehicle also fled on foot and was apprehended with the assistance of a K9.
Mckinney Elementary School was placed on lockdown during the event, but that lockdown has since been lifted, and there is no active threat in the area
“The Thurston County Sheriff's Office would like to thank local law enforcement and medics for the immediate response and assistance,” TCSO stated.
Per standard protocol, the Thurston County Sheriff's deputies involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, according to TCSO.
“The information being released is preliminary, and this is an ongoing investigation,” TCSO stated.
OII was notified of the incident at 3:11 p.m., according to a news release from the agency.
OII confirmed that no law enforcement officers were injured and said “more information will follow.”
As required by state law, TCSO will not be involved in the investigation.
All future communications will be sent via the Oll.
The Oll will release the names of the involved deputies and the Thurston County Coroner's Office will release the name of the deceased at a later date.
Once the Oll investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office for review.
In line with its Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program, TCSO will release bodycam footage of the incident “as soon as reasonably permitted by law,” TCSO stated in the release.
